US Congress Powers and Limitations

The US Constitution establishes the following provision:

“All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a
Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate
and House of Representatives.”

- Article 1, US Constitution

This provision is directly related to which of the following
grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence?

• “judges dependent on the [king’s] will alone for the
  tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of
  their salaries”

• “quartering large bodies of armed troops among us”

• “imposing taxes on us without our consent”

• “refused for a long time…to cause others to be elected,
  whereby the legislative powers…have returned to the people at large for their exercise”

Select the term that matches the following definition:

Shared powers between the federal and state governments.

• Concurrent powers

• Reserved powers

• Enumerated powers

• Separation of power

Select the term that matches the following definition:

The powers that are specifically given to Congress through the Constitution.

• Concurrent powers

• Reserved powers

• Enumerated powers

• Separation of power

Select the term that matches the following definition:

Limitations on government that are strictly defined by law.

• Judicial review

• Naturalization

• Due process

• Limited government

Select all examples of the non-legislative powers of Congress listed below.

• Implied powers

• Regulation

• Appointments

• Impeachment

elastic clause

• states that the Supreme Court can be flexible when interpreting the Constitution

• states that Congress can be flexible when considering laws it makes limiting states

• states that Congress can make laws limiting the powers of other branches

• states that Congress can make any law necessary for carrying out its duties

Which of the following is not a power of the Congress?

• To tax, to borrow money, to coin money.

• To declare war and to raise and support armies.

• To Make laws.

• To appoint judges.

How can the legislative branch check the power of the executive branch? (More than one)

• Override a veto

• Impeach the president

• Declare legislation unconstitutional

• Impeach Supreme Court Justices

What is the responsibility of the legislative branch?

• To interpret/make meaning of laws

• To write/pass laws

• To enforce/carry out laws

Limited Government

• The government has unlimited power to make and enforce laws.

• The government controls all aspects of citizens' lives, including religion and speech.

• The government's powers are restricted by a constitution to protect individual freedoms

• A government with power limited by the people